Toronto’s chief medical officer calls for decriminalization of all drugs for personal use

The report comes as cities across Canada rush to implement harm-reduction strategies to curb the spiking death toll from the opioid crisis

The Globe and Mail (Canada)Monday, July 9, 2018

Toronto’s chief medical officer is calling for the decriminalization – and potential legalization – of all drugs for personal use as a way to curb rising opioid-related deaths and overdoses. In a report released on Monday, Medical Officer of Health Eileen de Villa recommended the federal government scale up harm-prevention strategies, including the removal of legal penalties for small amounts of drugs, and convene a task force to look at the possibility of regulating all drugs, such as alcohol. Dr. de Villa made those recommendations to the Toronto Board of Health, asking it to put pressure on the provincial and federal governments.

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In 2011 the 1961 UN Single Convention on drugs will be in place for 50 years. In 2012 the international drug control system will exist 100 years since the International Opium Convention was signed in 1912 in The Hague. Does it still serve its purpose or is a reform of the UN Drug Conventions needed? This site provides critical background.